Rockaway Outdoors/Tales From the Wheelhouse

North winds continued to blow on and off throughout the week, at times handicapping where one could fish. The back bay has been disappointing with regards to any type of respectable fall run.

Peanut bunker seemed to be prevalent in the various creeks and marinas and at times some big blues find them but the reality is no stripers of legitimate size are beneath them. Saturday's charter for Stan and guest aboard the Karen Ann produced a mix of bass and blues trolling and casting off Breezy Point but the keeper ratio on the bass was sparse.

Hopefully a dip in the sea temperature will get the fish moving. A smorgasbord of bait sand eels, and bunker have moved into the area and hopefully will be picked up on by bass and blues.

Down south the bluefish boats out of Sheepshead Bay and Gerritsen Creek have been able to put together a catch despite the finicky nature of the fish over the weekend. Often between the moons bluefish will be unpredictable.

Bottom fishing has been good, blackfish, being the most sought after species for the moment, are coming up both on the structures within Jamaica Bay and along the Rockaway reef, as well as the inshore wrecks. Green and white crabs being the staple baits are both effective.

Surfcasters have had some sporadic action to the east along the jetties from Point Lookout to Atlantic Beach. My reports mirror the same lament - small fish, few keepers. Well all we can do for the time being is hope we get a run of fish off of this next full moon.

Until the next tide … You can visit Captain Vinnie at karenanncharters. com.